Architects

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Text description provided by the architects. In the landmarked industrial building, dating from the last turn of century, there are imprints of different eras. It can be compared to an archive – layers of time. The building has served as ammunition factory, paint factory and presently as kunsthalle for contemporary art and architecture.

The kunsthalle lies in an area with heavy, superannuated industrial buildings, more or less degenerated. This is a landscape that has been left, that is waiting to be demolished and integrated with the surrounding city. Until then, this place lives on its own terms.

The visitor is lead through a narrow alley with the light from above shinning down towards the water. The walkway runs close to the kunsthalle as it passes the entire building, to then be invited into the dark stairway and the vast pillar hall.

The art space is heavy, introvert but with light from the sky cutting down through the dark. Here, art can be integrated with the light, and either act more independent or turn inwards. Contrasting the heavy pillar hall, the top floor is flooded with light. Here the light is sharp from above and openings perforate the walls. If the pillar hall turns inwards, the floor above opens towards the view – the gaze can wander out to the water and the city. The body/art is here able to integrate with the city, the surroundings and the light.

Underneath the beautiful arches in the halls further down towards the water lies Färgfabriken Kafé, where intimate meetings as well as grand parties take place. To the archive, another layer is added, that of our own time, in the shape of three structures – the cube, the wall and the hearth. These volumes stand in dialogue with the older building and the contemporary art. They express themselves through the surrounding industrial landscape, which has been worn by time.